Is it me, or are sportswriters determined to make Cole Hamels into a mirror image of A.J. Burnett? Read this Times piece, which centers around Hamels’ inconsistency. And sure: Hamels is inconsistent. But… so?
Look at A.J. Burnett. He’s an inconsistent pitcher. And yet for all but one inning this postseason, he’s put in excellent starts. No one really denies that he’s done so. But the storyline won’t die, because the postseason is too short for a player to prove he’s consistent. Look at Alex Rodriguez, who’s 0 for 8 in the World Series after an offensively torrid ALDS and ALCS. Are we supposed to believe he’s a choker? Or do we accept the more mundane storyline that eight at-bats are statistically insignificant?
Same goes for Hamels. Phils fans I’ve talked to over the past few days have seemed like they’re fearing the worst tonight. But Cole Hamels is a World Series MVP. No Yankee fan should view tonight as anything but a microcosm of the real storyline of the World Series: a slog for advantage between two astonishingly evenly matched teams.
I know I should post the Misfits’ “Halloween,” but in fairness to Philadelphia, this is the real Halloween/World Series soundtrack, particularly from a pro-Phils perspective. RIP Sean McCabe.
I’m not going to my epic Halloween party — hosted by my friend Matt Ficke and titled Fickeween III: Die Ficke Die — until we know who wins here.



77 Comments
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About ATTACKERMAN
RSS/XML Feed
What’s with “professional” broadcasters being unable to fill a rain delay and deciding instead to broadcast a game from the other night? Argh!
These teams aren’t evenly matched, the Yankees are much better. Now being much better in baseball at this level means a 55/45 split but its there. Now if they had to go 4 or 5 pitchers deep. the Yankees might have some worries but they don’t.
OK, Hamels throwing heat.
Rollins with a leadoff single, ripped off Alex’s glove.
error and a sick look on his face.
HEY. Philly. It was HGH.
Pettitte Ks Chase
KK
Hamels hits A Rod. There will be blood
Robi SO with Jorgie on.
I come back from the bathroom and Werth golfs a homer. 1-o PHI
Nice hitting by Werth.
Ibanez SO. KKK
Feliz doubles off the wall. My looming decision to go to Fickeween and return by the 7th inning is looking ever more sound.
One-out double by the 7th hitter ain’t the same in the NL
OK, induce the GB DP on Hamels.
Oh balls, what a great bunt. Loaded. Like a VU album.
Oh Andy. 3-0 with the bases loaded, trynna get the grounder.
Walks in the run. 2-0 PHI
Oh McCarver needs to shut up. There was nothing simple about fielding that bunt.
3-0 PHI on the sacrifice.
Just wait until it’s time to go to Philly and fight Tug McGraw’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound.
FINALLY. KKKK. Three runs in. You know what, we’re going to score some runs and Andy always regroups if he’s not actually knocked out of the game.
Weak inning at the plate. Come on Andy.
KKKKK. Ryan now has 8 SOs.
here’s your inning, Spencer. if Andy goes 1-2-3, we’ll have a game.
Easy inning for a settled-in Andy.
Tex walks. Here’s A Rod.
Woo! Off the wall! Alex doubles, Tex to third, one out.
THAT IS A FUCKING HOMER.
Woo! Delay! Replay that shit!
by a good inch and a half
Who are you, Kate Hudson?
HOMERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 3-2 PHI
Just someone with that much extra.
Wow, a replay and overturn of the field judgement. Is that a first for baseball? (And yes, I agree — it was a home run.)
First for Series. Been a couple in the regular season
That wasn’t a home run to tie or go ahead, but it was a game-changer.
Yup, Tex was off the bag on that one. Woulda been Feliz to 2nd with any other 1B.
Maybe Andy will remember to field this bunt
Wait, huh? Did Robi not make that play? Girlfriend was asking me for some costume advice — why are we not out of the inning?
OK kids, I’ll see you for the late innings. It’s a Halloween party for me.
Ha Hope you saw that
and that and that
and for you, absent host, it’s first and second, one out , A-Rod up and they’re pulling Hamels with the Yanks up 5-3
See, A-Man had to leave before the Yankees hauled out the lumber.
As long as you’re here, I expect the Yanks to do well.
And Swisher just helped!! 6-3 and a no-doubter
Werth supermans that pitch. 6-4
and Phillies’ first hit since the three-run second inning
Uh-oh! I better go away again. Like you said, my presence is to the Yanks’ foes what A-Man’s is to the Yanks.
You can stay. The Phillies ain’t coming back in this one.
And dang it, what happens when I show up? The Stripes score.
‘Night, Mac! Hold down the fort, ‘k?
It’s beginning to look like it, isn’t it?
They’ll have to hope for the spirit of Tug McGraw for Games Three through Six.
Night to you, PW.
Tomorrow, I hope.
‘night!
You’re still here in spirit!
A pinch-hit, opposite-field HR for Matsui
I’m back! 8-4, Jesus. Swisher went yard?
Marte in. Did Andy pitch till the seventh?
Ryan K’s — when are we going to see the postseason-choker stories?
He pitched 6. Joba the 7th
Marte K’s Werth. Hot FIYAAAAAH
and if things go well, expect the coronation of Philip IX
This guy in my living room is trying to tell me Mo should pitch the 9th. We’re getting Phil.
How deep did Hamels pitch?
CC on short tomorrow, You want Mo ready to go 2 again.
see #45, hamels left when you did
Oh rad — this thread is great.
Here comes Phil to phace the Phils.
Vampire Weekend sold ‘A-Punk’ to Hewlett Packard? JESUS.
Joe Buck, you are on FIRE.
One down.
Ruiz homers with one down. 8-5 NYY
Phils gone; here comes Mo.
Bad, bad news. We needed Hughes to finish that inning without giving up anything as much as we needed Mo to sit.
Man, Matt Stairs can RUN!
Three strikes away.
Done. I think we can live with Rivera throwing
sixfive pitches.We surely can, but I was hoping fro a rested Mo tomorrow and a confident Hughes for Monday.
aww shux!